CVE-2026-85376

Analyzed Analyzed - Analysis Complete

Authentication Bypass in Windows Print Spooler Components

Publication date: 2026-10-13

Last updated on: 2026-10-16

Assigner: Microsoft Corporation

Description

Weak authentication in Windows Print Spooler Components allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

CVSS Scores

EPSS Scores

Probability:
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Meta Information

Published

2026-10-13

Last Modified

2026-10-16

Generated

2026-10-19

AI Q&A

2026-10-14

EPSS Evaluated

2026-10-18

NVD

CVE-2026-85376

EUVD

EUVD-2026-99500

Affected Vendors & Products

Vendor	Product	Version / Range
microsoft	windows_server_2012	r2
microsoft	windows_server_2012	*
microsoft	windows_10_1607	to 10.0.14393.9612 (exc)
microsoft	windows_10_1607	to 10.0.14393.9612 (exc)
microsoft	windows_10_1809	to 10.0.17763.9376 (exc)
microsoft	windows_10_1809	to 10.0.17763.9376 (exc)
microsoft	windows_10_21h2	to 10.0.19044.7807 (exc)
microsoft	windows_10_21h2	to 10.0.19044.7807 (exc)
microsoft	windows_10_21h2	to 10.0.19044.7807 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_23h2	to 10.0.22631.7652 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_23h2	to 10.0.22631.7652 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_24h2	to 10.0.26100.9711 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_24h2	to 10.0.26100.9711 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_25h2	to 10.0.26200.9711 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_25h2	to 10.0.26200.9711 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_26h1	to 10.0.28000.3231 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_26h1	to 10.0.28000.3231 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_26h2	to 10.0.26300.9711 (exc)
microsoft	windows_11_26h2	to 10.0.26300.9711 (exc)
microsoft	windows_server_2025	to 10.0.26100.33650 (exc)
microsoft	windows_server_2022	to 10.0.20348.5761 (exc)
microsoft	windows_server_2016	to 10.0.14393.9612 (exc)
microsoft	windows_server_2019	to 10.0.17763.9376 (exc)
microsoft	windows_10_22h2	to 10.0.19045.7807 (exc)
microsoft	windows_10_22h2	to 10.0.19045.7807 (exc)
microsoft	windows_10_22h2	to 10.0.19045.7807 (exc)

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE

KEV

CWE ID	Description
CWE-1390	The product uses an authentication mechanism to restrict access to specific users or identities, but the mechanism does not sufficiently prove that the claimed identity is correct.

Attack-Flow Graph

Executive Summary

This vulnerability involves weak authentication in Windows Print Spooler Components. An authorized attacker can exploit this to elevate their privileges locally on affected systems.

Detection Guidance

Detecting this vulnerability requires checking for weak authentication in Windows Print Spooler components. Use PowerShell commands like Get-Service -Name Spooler to verify if the Print Spooler service is running. Inspect event logs for unusual privilege elevation attempts or authentication failures related to print services.

Impact Analysis

An attacker could gain higher-level access to your system, allowing them to install programs, view or delete data, or create new accounts with full user rights. This could lead to unauthorized system control or data breaches.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability allows local privilege escalation through weak authentication in Windows Print Spooler Components. Such unauthorized access could lead to data breaches or unauthorized modifications, which may violate compliance requirements under GDPR (data protection) and HIPAA (health information security) by exposing sensitive data or systems.

Mitigation Strategies

Apply the latest security updates from Microsoft to patch the weak authentication in Windows Print Spooler Components. Monitor Microsoft's update guide for specific patches.

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